Essential skills, planning and kit for your best summer afloat, Bonding & sealants guide, How to sail tidal estuaries, Yacht handing on rivers, Silicone antifouling…
Practical Boat Owner
May issue – out 13 March
Tune your rig so your boat points higher and sails better, The ultimate cruising guide to Britain and Ireland, Essential propeller care, How to check…
Invicta 26: a long keel yacht for the price of a good dinghy
Based on the Folkboat, the GRP Invicta 26 is a classic long keel yacht that can often be bought for the price of a good dinghy.
Westons Point 27: the head-turning gentleman’s launch
A semi-bespoke gentleman’s launch in cedar strip construction, the Westons Point 27 is a real head-turner that oozes traditional craftsmanship, as David Harding reports
Stitelmann first to leave the Marquesas in Leg 2 of the Mini Globe Race
In the latest from the Mini Globe Race, Renaud Stitelmann (Capucinette) is the first to set out from the Marquesas Islands. After completing his 8 day pitstop on Hiva On,…
How to sail around the UK and Ireland
Sam Steele explains everything you need to know about a circumnavigation of Britain and Ireland
How to sleep sailing shorthanded
John Apps stresses the importance of sleeping sufficiently on long-distance single-handed passages, and explains how to snatch safe naps without leaving yourself vulnerable
How to cross a Traffic Separation Scheme
Sticky Stapylton explains the meaning and intended purpose of traffic separation schemes – and what you should know if your boat has to enter or leave one
How I achieved optimal propeller pitch
Correct propeller size and pitch offer smooth and economical progress under engine. Peter Hawkins explains how he calculated the best combination for his boat
Understanding tidal streams and heights
Understanding tidal streams and heights is essential for passage planning and safe navigation. The RYA's former chief examiner, James Stevens, explains how
Repairing an inflatable dinghy: fixing holes
Paul Diamond repairs a dinghy that was chewed by rodents
Can I trust this boat mooring?
Most sailors use traditional moorings without knowing about their condition or how they are made. Ben Sutcliffe-Davies explains
Why Plan B is the route to success
Katy Stickland meets the founder and students at Plan B to see how boatbuilding and sailing are giving teenagers a second chance
Rubbing strakes refurbishment: step-by-step guide
Rubbing strakes take a lot of abuse, so it is important to pay them some attention. Ben Meakins shares how he made the ones on his boat as good as…
Why Orca is a gamechanger for cruising sailors
Digital navigation is slowly replacing traditional chart-table work for most cruising sailors, even though many still carry aging paper charts. We’ve become used to those large, boxy plotters (or multifunction…
Seascape 24 vs Seascape 27: Is a planing cruiser really practical?
Bowling effortessly downwind at 15 knots can be fun, but what are the compromises? David Harding sails the Seascape 24 and Seascape 27 to find out
Joshua Slocum: Is the Spray legend fact or fiction?
On the 130th anniversary of Joshua Slocum’s circumnavigation departure, Ian Nicolson discusses the reality of his seamanship feats
Five boats destroyed by fire at Portsmouth boatyard
Fire investigation officers are working to establish the cause of a fire that broke out at a boatyard in Tipner Lane in Portsmouth, Hampshire, destroying five boats.
Fitting a new toerail or grabrail on your sailboat or motorboat
Rupert Holmes explains the techniques for the removal and replacement of toerails and grabrails on our your boat
What happens to boat electrical systems and batteries if submerged?
After fitting an electric engine to his 19ft river boat, Bob Shillito thought he could look forward to years of hassle free cruising, until his boat sank
Luggers: why I find them a joy to sail
Prolific small boat owner Clive Marsh shares his experience of sailing Drascombe and Devon Luggers
Yacht charter in Europe: where to sail
From bareboat to skippered or flotilla holidays, Laura Hodgetts looks at options for sunnier climes a few hours’ flight away